Soledad O'Bitchy
11.5.2010 Thank you Toan for the nickname that titles this post.
By popular request, here is the story of our encounter with Ms. O'Brien.
It was also at a journalism convention a few years ago that we went to a plenary session she was moderating. My friend Toan interned for Soledad during her time on MSNBC's The Site. You tend to think that after being someone's personal assistant for months on end, you get to know a person. They may not remember your name years later, but once reminded, you would also think said person would at least give you a smile or a hug or make some polite conversation to see how you're doing, whether or not said person really gives a crap. It's called COMMON COURTESY.
Not so much. When he went up to say hello and congratulate her on her success and to say how much she'd influenced him early on, she literally looked like she was tasting, and then swallowing, her own vomit. It was so uncomfortable.
Toan: Soledad! I interned for you way back in the day when you were doing The Site! It's great to see you. I'm now a reporter in the Bay Area! This is my friend Vicky...
Soledad: Swallow. Small nod. Furtive glance over her shoulder.
Toan: How've you been? I hear you're a mom now...
Soledad: Forced smile. Looks past us into the distance.
At this point, I slowly back away, and start deeply reading through my convention handbook like it's the personal diary of Jesus, giving her some space, thinking maybe she just wants to chat with Toan.
Then, I catch her in my peripheral vision, (Asians have excellent peripheral vision) slowly turning around and just walking a few steps away like she smelled some blue cheese and needed to know where that smell was coming from.
Not. A. Single. Word. Toan walks back over and we're like, "Was that Soledad O'Brien's deaf, blind, and mute twin sister?" It was by far the strangest encounter with a professional journalist that I've ever had. I mean, this wasn't Laura Ling fresh out of the hands of her North Korean captors needing a minute to compose herself before a throng of reporters. This was Soledad O'Brien, at a professional convention with peers, just totally weirding out.
It's not like we were journalism groupies snapping photos and asking her to pose with us for 27 pictures. A former intern she worked with for a year of her life was stopping by to say hello and wish her well.
So there it is. Soledad O'Brien Fail.
Reader Comments (7)
wow, I totally liked her CNN piece "Latino in America." I even bought her book for $1.00 at used book store, I felt like I was cheating her but now I don't feel so bad!
Don't worry A, it's perfectly OK not to pay retail. Especially for that book. Plus, you're a student. Your karma is unharmed.
Interesting... totally seeing her in a whole different light now. Poor Toan!
The old saying "never forget where you came from" is still true. There is another saying that can be paraphrased and adjusted to the situation. It is "a good teacher never forgets what it is like to be a student". As I said, it can be modified to fit the situation, such as " a good doctor never forgets what it is like to be a patient", etc. Clearly, Soledad has forgotten where she came from. It is sad, really...
Excellent Soledad O'Brien story. My wife and I have argued about whether she's a tool, and I'm glad I'll have the hammer next time it comes up.
I've found that anchorpeople and famous reporter types I meet are nice or bitchy based inversely on how much shit I've talked about them behind their backs.
I wrote something in a column a long time ago about how whenever Katie Couric says a trendy word on "The Today Show," it's no longer cool any more and ruined for everyone. I even used Nexis to see when Couric first used "For Shizzle" and "Bling" and a couple of others. I've spoken to her since then for a couple of unrelated stories, and she was beyond awesome. The second time she stayed on the phone and chatted about journalism for an extra 15 minutes.
she used to be at KRON as east bay bureau chief back in the day. sad that she was a total bitch!
Keith: Apparently she has.
Peter: Thanks for sharing that story about Katie Couric. Funny theory. I hope you've talked a lot of shit about me. BTW did she ever see that column?
Doug: Well, that's a strong word. She was more of a douche baguette.